MRI Scan (MRI Scan In General)

Member Name: wearsidelass

Product:	MRI Scan In General
Date:	10/05/04 (451 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It is able to detect illness

Disadvantages: Can be very claustrophobic

Last summer I became very ill and was diagnosed as suffering from a condition called cluster headaches. I was in extreme pain - in fact, I could have cheerfully cut off my head! As soon as I raised my body the pressure and pain would start and I really thought I had a serious illness as I just could not believe that a mere headache could cause this particular scale of sheer pain. These were not normal headaches or migraines, no, they were so much more debilitating. At times, I felt as if I just wanted to give up the fight. After 10 days of agony, my doctor sent me to hospital and asked them to give me an MRI scan. I was duly taken to hospital but they said I had cluster headaches, go home and take painkillers and that was it. No scan, just go home and get on with your illness. My headaches persisted and my doctor did try every medication available but migraine tablets just didn't shift the pain. I felt as though my body was rattling with the sheer amount of painkillers I was taking. I hate taking tablets of any shape or form and so, in the end, I really had to demand a head scan because the weeks were passing by and I was constantly having bad headaches.

Eventually, I received a letter from the hospital advising me that I was going to have a brain scan in September. As the day drew nearer I began to get quite frightened because I had heard the scanner can be claustrophobic. Nerves were getting the better of me! However, I knew I couldn't miss the scan appointment because I had fought too hard for it and I would be able (hopefully!) to eliminate the serious illnesses ie. tumour, cancer etc. On the date in question my husband and I arrived at the MRI unit. It looked like a building site! Work was in progress installing machinery etc.

However, I was the
first person to have ascan. The booklet which was enclosed with the appointment was duly handed back to the receptionist! (Couldn't believe that they wanted it back to give to someone else, but I did return it). The booklet had stated that you must not wear anything metallic and your clothing must be comfortable - they did advise the wearing of a track suit). The radiographer took me into the scanner room. On entering it, fear took over for a short while. I knew the scanner was open-ended (by courtesy of booklet) but it was still a scary sight for me!

He asked me to lie down on the bed (which was pulled out from the scanner). At first, my head was uncomfortable so he had to put a very small pillow under my neck so that I was extremely comfortable. Then he put supports on either side of my head so that my head was basically jammed in. He was always courteous and asked if I was comfortable. He checked that the visor (as I called it!) was in the correct position for my head ie. my eyes, nose and mouth parts were accessible but the rest of the visor covered over my head. He gave me a button to press if I needed assistance. He said he would be speaking to me throughout the process which should take approximately 15/20 minutes.

The "bed" was then slowly inserted into the scanner. I had been advised by a friend to keep my eyes shut throughout the process. I duly did this but then curiosity got the better of me! I wished I hadn't opened my eyes! As I opened my eyes all I could see was this covering which was about 1 inch away from my eyes. It was very light inside the scanner but goodness it was very claustrophic. Also, I am one of those people who can't stand having their pants being uncomfortable and I was itching to put my hand down and make myself comfortable but I couldn't because I wasn't all
owed to move. I decided I would just have to grin and bear it.

The radiographer spoke to me at all stages ie. told me that I would hear noises and it would last for one minute and then there would be a resting period. Then he would ask if I was OK. Then he would say the next session would last for 3 minutes. The noises sounded just like a building site - sometimes it sounded like a pneumatic drill! Music was also piped into the scanner. Luckily, I happen to like Beautiful South!

By the end of the session I was actually nearly asleep! When he said it was finished I was very pleased. At one stage I did feel quite hot - I thought this was through fear! However, the next day I was speaking to a friend who had had a scan a few weeks earlier and she had felt a similar hot feeling. I had to get up from the scanning bed slowly and he told me to rest for a couple of minutes then escorted me back to the reception. He told me he had taken 100 photos of my brain. I wished now that I had asked him to see one. I was just so pleased that I had actually got a brain!

I had to see my doctor one week later and he had received the results (I was amazed that they had been received so quickly). My scan results were fine - nothing seriously wrong with my brain! (Husband doesn't always agree with that!!!).

All in all, I was frightened but am now relieved that I have not got a serious illness. I would recommend anyone to have one of these scans - it is absolutely amazing but just remember DO KEEP YOUR EYES SHUT IF YOU ARE CLAUSTROPH IC!

Just a note, it took 9 months for the cluster headaches to eventually "die off" and I a
m keeping my fingers crossed that this was a "one off" experience.

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